In a career spanning three decades, guitarist Bobby Broom has embodied the truism that it’s the player not the tune that makes for a memorable performance in jazz. Performing as a sideman with legendary artists such as Sonny Rollin’s, Miles Davis, Kenny Burrell, Stanley Turrentine and Dr. John, just to name a few, while also constantly touring and recording with his own groups, Broom is always pushing his playing and his concepts to new heights.

Starting tonight (December 3rd) through Sunday (December 6th), he will be performing with his trio at Joe & Wayne Segal’s Jazz Showcase in Chicago. We caught up with him ahead of this weekend’s performances to talk about his life in music, his concepts on playing and what he has in store for the listeners this weekend…

Last summer, Chicago guitarist Bobby Broom put together a new organ trio at the behest of Steely Dan, which wanted an opening act for its “Jamalot Ever After” tour.

Broom obliged, creating his Organi-Sation, a band that put the jazz guitarist in front of Steely Dan’s huge and devoted audience in a whirlwind three months of performances. But that unit – with Ben Paterson at the organ and Kobie Watkins and Makaya McCraven playing drums on varying dates – hasn’t been performing since the Steely Dan tour.

Until Friday night, when Broom reconvened the musicians for a weekend run at the Green Mill, which launched what amounts to the band’s second act: The trio will open for Steely Dan again at Ravinia on Friday and Saturday, with a recording session to follow.

Last summer, Chicago guitarist Bobby Broom put together a new organ trio at the behest of Steely Dan, which wanted an opening act for its “Jamalot Ever After” tour.

Broom obliged, creating his Organi-Sation, a band that put the jazz guitarist in front of Steely Dan’s huge and devoted audience in a whirlwind three months of performances. But that unit – with Ben Paterson at the organ and Kobie Watkins and Makaya McCraven playing drums on varying dates – hasn’t been performing since the Steely Dan tour.

Until Friday night, when Broom reconvened the musicians for a weekend run at the Green Mill, which launched what amounts to the band’s second act: The trio will open for Steely Dan again at Ravinia on Friday and Saturday, with a recording session to follow.

The Organi-Sation, in other words, is back – and it has brought the 1960s and ’70s with it.